It’s funny. I find myself constantly saying things like, “The world is a crazy place.” But let’s face it, it is rare to have a day go by when there is not another crisis, another tragedy. Each day we seem to wake up wondering, “What will I see this time when I turn on the news, open up my phone, etc?” Over these past almost 6 weeks, I find myself thinking and reflecting on how we are able to handle these moments. I have tried to put into words (here and here) just the tip of the iceberg of the thoughts in my head.
Yesterday we showed up. This is an overhead view of The March for Israel that took place in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, November 14, 2023. It was reported that over 290,000 people showed up to be present. We came to express through our presence and voices that we will not sit quietly during this moment in time when Antisemitism and hate are once again sweeping the nation.
The rally got me reflecting on another aspect about coping and engaging during a crisis. Is it worth it to show up to a rally? Is this the right way to respond to a crisis? As far as I am concerned, the answer is YES! And yet, as I was scouring the internet, reading others’ thoughts, I was reminded of a clause in a verse from Zechariah (4:6):
לֹ֤א בְחַ֙יִל֙ וְלֹ֣א בְכֹ֔חַ כִּ֣י אִם־בְּרוּחִ֔י אָמַ֖ר יְהֹוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit —said GOD of Hosts.
Some Rabbinic leaders have suggested that if we truly believe this prophetic verse, then our mission is not to take action but to put all of our faith in Gd and that prayer and Torah study (which would be study for the purpose of connecting to Gd, not for knowledge) suffice. For some, this is how best to deal with a crisis. We pray and we work on ourselves because the only one we can change is ourselves. Through making changes to our perspective we will see that things will change because we change. And while I can argue that there is some truth to this, I do think it is missing an important element.
To grapple with a crisis, we must confront it from all different angles. Strengthening and drawing on our faith is just part of the mission. We are also responsible to try to do things which we believe might have an effect in overcoming the crisis moment. If we take the rally from yesterday as an example, or any of the other rallies we have seen over the years, showing up was the doing. None of us can know or predict if the needle will shift as a result. Yet, if nobody showed up, then most likely there would be no chance for change.
Part of coping with a crisis is finding moments of taking control back in our lives. Control is a strange thing. Deep down, we know none of us is really ever in control and yet we are always trying to hold on to control. At the same time, we cannot live life just waiting for life to happen. We must work to live a life of doing the things we can to continue constructing the road we are travelling on, one step at a time.
As we continue to grapple and struggle with all we are feeling and experiencing in these challenging times, may we find the fortitude to continue taking steps to confront the baseless and abject hate all around us. May we find a renewed strength in our faith and trust that if we do our part, the outcomes will be for a brighter day tomorrow.
If you or someone you know is struggling, spiritually and/or emotionally, trying to find a sense of meaning in these times of struggle, know that you are not alone. Contact New Beginnings Spiritual Coaching and Consulting LLC at 732-314-6758 ext. 100 or via email at newbeginningsspiritualcoach@gmail.com
New beginnings: A blog about spirituality, chaplaincy and renewal 